EU member states express doubts about Commission's proposal for Erasmus+ for 2028-2034
EU
European Union
member states are continuing to ask questions about the European Commission's proposal for the Erasmus+ programme for 2028-2034, despite several sessions to discuss it. They have also criticised the absence of a programme committee in the proposal and the focus on the Union of Skills rather than the European Education Area.
Denmark, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU's Council of Ministers, has drawn up a report on the progress of discussions between member states' education experts on the Commission proposal, which is part of plans for the next medium-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF
Multiannual financial framework
).
The report will be discussed by EU education ministers in their Council meeting on 27/11/2025.
Delegations have not discussed the size of the budget for Erasmus+, as this is reserved for a higher political level. The Commission has proposed a budget of €41 billion for the programme for 2028-2034, compared to €26.2bn for 2021-2027.
EU officials say that as none of the new programmes can be finalised before the horizontal MFF negotiations conclude, a final compromise will still take time.
EU education ministers were also expected to adopt a resolution on the second cycle of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area (2026-2030) at the meeting of the 27/11/2025. However, Hungary has significant reservations, preventing adoption. The day before the meeting, EU member states' permanent representatives (COREPER) will discuss once more whether an agreement is possible.
Reinstating a programme committee in the proposal
The main criticism expressed by delegations was over the lack of a programme committee in the proposal. This committee is composed of representatives of the Commission and national authorities and helps decide priorities, actions and budgets of Erasmus+. The Danish presidency has proposed reinstating the committee procedure article from the current programme into the next one.
They also expressed concern that the programme was designed to contribute to the goal of creating a Union of Skills. Delegations insisted that the main objective of Erasmus+ should be the building of the European Education Area (EEA European Education Area ).
Questions for the Commission: Delegations need more information
In the report, education experts asked about the new structure of the programme proposed by the Commission, which is divided into two pillars ("Learning opportunities for all" and "Capacity-building support"). The current programme has chapters devoted to each sector covered by the programme, namely education and training, youth and sport.
Delegations also asked questions about the relationship between the Commission, on the one hand, and national authorities and agencies responsible for Erasmus +, on the other.
On Erasmus+ scholarships in strategic educational fields, delegations asked for more information about how these awards would work in practice and what the criteria for awarding them would be.
Overall, despite several sessions in which the Commission had responded to questions, delegations felt that they needed more information to help them better understand how the new programme would work.
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